Chapter Thirteen: The Golden Boar
"Wangchul-ah, how was it?" Haneul excitedly asked while walking towards Wangchul. The crowd is still applauding and is focused on the amazing Empress.
Wangchul rose and reached the bow in Haneul's hands. "That was splendid. Han-i, did you secretly practiced?" He said in a gentle voice.
The carefree action of the Empress towards the Emperor and the gentle demeanor of the cold Emperor towards the Empress stupefied the people who are looking at them. Soon after that, you could hear faint murmurs that Haneul only ignored.
"Did you see how they look at each other?"
"Aye, It is like any other couple in love!"
"If so, Milord, the rumors about the Emperor and the Empress making time to indulge in a small night market tryst the other night was true!"
"I say! Look at how lovely they are!"
Wangchul can't help but manifest a faint curve on his lips. He was obviously enjoying the positive response about their relationship. He was sure of himself that since it came to him; noticing Haneul, he could also sooner reciprocate Haneul's feelings towards him. Yet, seeing her unmoved despite hearing the citizen's opinions, he was hardly doubting if Haneul still feels the same.
'Perhaps, the time I finally noticed her being back was very late. It seems like she had a change of heart.' He thought.
"Wangchul-ah, I'll be making rounds at the noble ladies." She tapped Wangchul's shoulder lightly that made him flinch.
Thinking that his response was to create a misunderstanding, he replied while smiling, "Ah, yes. I'll be waiting here, get back safely Han-i."
While staring at the back of Haneul, Wangchul spotted someone familiar at the concubine's seats. There, he felt a faint of hope.
***
"Blessings and Glory upon the Empire of Han, her Imperial Majesty, the Empress." everyone cheerfully greeted the Haneul.
She approached a group of noble ladies who seems to be in the middle of a tea party. She smiled and nodded when the Lady with the highest status pulled a chair especially for her.
"Our humble group prepared a seat worthy only for the Empress wishing her majesty would join us for some tea." She smiled with an angelic face.
Having no reason to reject their offer, Haneul took her seat and Kyung Mi immediately fills in an empty teacup.
Haneul closed her eyes and smell the aroma of the tea. Knowing the familiar aroma, she beamed. "Oh my, Chamomile tea."
Seeing Haneul's reaction, everyone felt delighted and started to empty up their teacups.
'I'm drinking this tea every night because it helps me sleep but who would've thought that I'll be drinking it here again? Nice! Haha!'
They then started to talk about their partners or children who participated in the hunting competition and what designs they embroidered in their handkerchiefs. Just like at the tea party with the concubines, Haneul was silently listening while enjoying her tea and delicacies presented. When someone says something funny, she would laugh along. One of them is pregnant and it became the new source of the topic in their table.
"Right, your majesty, It seems that his majesty and your highness are finally showing off how good your relationship is. If I may ask, are we to expect something big near future?" The pregnant lady excitedly asked while rubbing her bloated stomach. The others also asked, thinking it was a possibility.
Haneul almost choked on her drink but remained calm and composed. She wasn't expecting to be the center of attention when she was only listening and enjoying their talks.
She smiled gently, "It is for everyone to find out and for me to know."
If she were to say 'no' then everyone would not leave her alone and a never-ending question would be possible, if she were to say 'yes' or simply lie, then in order to put up with that lie, she needs it to be true. However, if she answered like it's a secret then it means that 'I'll leave it up in your imaginations'. By any means, she's safe.
The ladies really did imagine every best-case scenario they can imagine.
"What if that is a yes but is soon to be announced hence, we can't dare know first?"
"What if that's a no yet her majesty would love to have a little prince or princess, am I correct?"
Everyone was debating whether the Empress is pregnant or not. The table was lovely and Haneul was enjoying seeing them debate about something funny.
'Wait... it is no fun at all... Because I'm the empress.. that means whether I like it or I like it... I NEED TO GIVE WANGCHUL AN FRICKINGLY CUTE BABY?'
The calm and collected Empress was panicking inside her mind because of the thought that suddenly appeared. Now everyone on the table, including Haneul, was in chaos.
But her panicking state immediately stopped when someone from the hunting grounds yelled. "MAKE WAY! THE GOLDEN BOAR IS UNSTOPPABLE!"
It was Yungsoo who is trying to keep up with the raging golden boar that is about to go past the border where the tents are located.
Haneul immediately stood up. Wangchul ordered the Imperial Guards to catch the golden boar and immediately ran towards Haneul.
But he was only halfway when Haneul snatched a bow and arrow from an Imperial Guard and faced the running golden boar.
"HAN-I!"
"THE EMPRESS! YOUR MAJESTY!"
"MYUNG HANEUL! YOU BETTER MOVE!"
But Haneul didn't listen to anyone and positioned herself to kill the golden boar instead.
Because of Yungsoo's loud voice, it was able to reach Haneul's ear even though the golden boar was still meters away from the border. She faced the golden boar that is now running towards her, eyes raging and feet unable to stop.
The golden boar was now only a meter away.
Despite the brave act, Haneul was anxious. If she doesn't stop the boar then the tents would be destroyed and there would be casualties. She narrowed her eyes and stretched the bow. Before she got to release the arrow, she felt a huge source of energy running towards her fingertips and her emerald eyes shone in a split second.
Because of the energy released together with the arrow, Haneul not only killed the boar but also broken its golden core to pieces. The golden core of the boar is also known as the boar's heart. It was a hundred-year-old boar and is only killed during the hunting competition. As long as its golden core is not damaged, it has the ability to regenerate or heal its wounds.
Seeing the completely dead golden boar, Wangchul was shocked, the golden boar was used as a beast during hunting competition that's why no one crushed its golden core, and even if they wanted to, they just could not. However, the Empress defeated it with only a bow and an arrow. It was truly amazing.
Wangchul immediately approached Haneul's back that is still staring at the dead boar. "Han-i, how did you do that?" he asked with amusement.
But the amused face of Wangchul immediately faded and became an anxious one when Haneul slowly faced him with a pale face, half-closed eyes, and fresh blood dripping on her nose.
"I.. don't.. know.." relieved that Wangchul is already by her side. She let herself collapsed